Dan Gamache ended a July 4th celebration for the Potomac Nationals (38-44, 5-8) with a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night. Potomac’s 7-5 victory snapped a four-game losing streak and earned a series opening victory over the Frederick Keys (35-47, 4-9) in front of a season-high 10,579 fans at Pfitzner Stadium.
Potomac held command of the matchup for nearly the entire ballgame, never trailed, and led after a three-run bottom of the second inning. The P-Nats held the lead until the top of the ninth, when C Armando Araiza tied the game with an RBI single off of RHP Dakota Bacus.
The P-Nats sent seven men to the plate in the second inning against LHP Brian Gonzalez (ND). Potomac loaded the bases with no outs before SS Edwin Lora grounded into a force out at the plate. 2B Bryan Mejia followed with a sacrifice fly, while CF Victor Robles plated two runs with a double.
A sacrifice fly from 3B David Masters in the third inning lifted Potomac’s lead to 4-0, the largest lead of the night for either side.
Frederick battled back against LHP Taylor Guilbeau (ND) and scored three runs between the fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the fourth, SS Ryan Mountcastle hit his team leading 15th home run, a solo shot. The next frame, Araiza tallied his fourth home run of the season, as his two-run blast cut the Potomac lead to just one run. Halfway through the matchup, Potomac led 4-3.
After the P-Nats added a run in the sixth inning on a solo home run from Masters, the Keys scored a single run in each of the final two frames. In the eighth inning, Bacus inherited a runner and gave up an RBI double to 3B Shane Hoelsher. In the top of the ninth, 1B Alex Murphy led off with a ground ball down the third base line that took a massive hop over Masters, which led to a double. After a failed bunt attempt from CF Glynn Davis, Araiza tied the game with an RBI single to left field.
Following the blown lead, Robles led off the bottom of the ninth with a pop up to second base. RHP Karl Triana (L, 2-1) then walked Masters, which brought Gamache to the plate. After a 3-0 fastball went for a called strike, the Potomac third baseman hit the 3-1 pitch over the right field wall for Potomac’s second walk-off win of the season. RHP Kyle Schepel (W, 2-3) recorded the final out of the top of the ninth inning and earned the win.
With a victory in the first game of the seven-game homestand, the P-Nats will look to make it two in a row, as RHP Luis Reyes (5-8, 4.63) is scheduled to start for the P-Nats Tuesday night. Reyes didn’t allow an earned run last time out, though picked up the loss in his six-inning outing vs. Buies Creek. For the Keys, RHP Ofelky Peralta (1-8, 6.67) will try to snap Frederick’s three game losing streak. Peralta has surrendered four earned runs in each of his last two starts, neither of which went longer than three innings.
First pitch is set for 7:05pm Wednesday night. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:50pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.
Game Two of the homestand brings with it $20K Winning Wednesday. The P-Nats have upped the ante on Winning Wednesdays, with two opportunities for fans to win $10,000! If any P-Nats player hits a grand slam in the seventh inning, one fan will walk away with $10,000; while if the starting P-Nats pitcher throws a complete game no-hitter of at least nine innings, another fan will win $10,000. These contests are free to enter, and fans can sign up at the fan assistance booth. Fans must be present to win.
The series against the Keys concludes with Thursday Cheers at the ballpark, featuring $1 drink specials during the game on Thursday, July 6th. The drink specials will run for 90 minutes. New this year is College Night Pfitz Parties! With proof of a student ID, grandstand tickets will be $5 and in the Picnic Area, there will be games, including water pong, corn hole and trivia. Also, this Thursday is Taco Thursday! Stop by the Café Cantina in the Extreme Custom Collision Café Area to purchase some tacos.
Head to Pfitzner Stadium on 80’s Night! As the P-Nats welcome the Blue Rocks to The Pfitz for a four-game series, the ballpark will flash back to 80’s music, dancing, big hair and more! Be one of the first 250 fans through the gates to take home a P-Nats branded fanny pack! From there, each inning will progress fans through the 1980s decade, as each of the nine frames will represent its corresponding year in the decade.
Saturday night is a premium giveaway night, and this is one fans won’t want to miss! The first 1,250 fans through the gates will take home an Ode to Tommy John Surgery Elbow Statue, courtesy of Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic. The figurine pays homage to the surgery with a removable ulnar collateral ligament. Saturday is also How the Grinch Stole Halfway to Christmas Night, celebrating 60 years of the classic Dr. Seuss book. The night will cast a Whoville-esque winter wonderland on The Pfitz while infusing the Grinch’s proclivities (that would make Dr. Seuss proud).
The series against the Blue Rocks continues with Kids Day Sunday! The first 250 kids 12 and under will eat free, presented by Little Caesars.
The homestand concludes with Summer Camp Day! Area camps will head to The Pfitz to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of baseball. There will also be water balloons being tossed into the crowd.
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